Artificial limb



May 1o, 1949. J. M. TACHAR 2,469,937

, ARTIFICIAL LIMB Filed oct. 4, 194e 3 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR. .Y Z//Z 7ZZC627" ATTD RN EYS May 10, 1949. v J. M. TACHAR 2,469,937

ARTIFICIAL LIMB Filed Oct. 4, `1946 3 sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Patented May 10, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEv ARTIFICIAL LIMB John M. Tachar, Dearborn, Mich.

Application October 4, 1946, Serial No. 701,275 (c1. 3 7) 4 Claims.

My present invention relates to an improved artificial limb and more particularly to the structure embodied therein providing for lateral and longitudinal adjustment of the foot on the shin portion, and cushion means therebetween preventing too free swinging thereof In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical ein-- bodiment of my invention according to the best mode I have thus far devised, but it will be understood that various changes and alterations may lbe made in the exemplied structure within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the artificial limb joint of my invention at line I-I of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view at line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view at line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view partly in section of the two way joint.

Figure 5 is an end elevational view thereof.

Figure 6 is a bottom'plan view of the joint.

Figure 7 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the cover from the joint.

Figure 9 is a side elevational view thereof.

Figure 10 is an end elevational view of the housing.

Figure 11 is a side elevational view of the swivel tube.

Figure 12 is an end elevational view thereof.

Figure 13 is a side elevational view of the swivel rod.

Figure 14 is an end elevational View thereof.

Figure 15 is a side elevational View of the anged bushing.

Figure 16 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 17 is a side elevational view of the flanged nut for the upper bolt.

Figure 18 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 19 is a side elevational view of the flanged nut for the lower bolt.

Figure 20 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 21 is a. side elevational view of the upper bolt.

Figure 22 is a front elevational View thereof.

Figure 23 is an elevational view of the lower bolt.

Referring now to the drawings I have illustrated the present embodiment of my inven- 1 tion as comprising afshin portion 2 and a foot portion 4 and the principal purpose of this invention is the structure for securing these portions.

A bolt 6 having a lower eye 8 is secured by nut iEl having iiange l2 through which is driven a nail Ul into the bottom of the recess I6 of the shin portion 2. A bushing I8 threadedly engages the lower end of the bolt 6 and a washer 2li rests on the shoulder 22 of the bushing. A cup or socket formation 2d is formed on the lower part of the bushing and comprises a hemispherical concave surface 2t cooperating with the similar convex surface 28 of a semi-spherical formation Bil. A pin 32 passes through the semispherical formation Sii and the eye 8 of a bolt 6.

A. sleeve portion 3l which depends from the formation St, has a tapered surface 3E and it will be apparent that the semi-spherical formation and sleeve will pivot laterally of the joint on the journal pin and eye. A housing 36 has a central aperture 36a and iianges 36h for the assembly. The sleeve portion 351 has slots 44a for the lower end of the bolt E.

Within the sleeve 34 portion I provide tube 3l closed by. plugs C and a rod 38 within the tube formed with grooves Iii! forming races for bail bearings `llt, and through a transverse slot 44 in the sleeve 34 there depends a lower bolt 'i5 from the rod, which bolt is anchored by nut i6 having a flange ring it secured by nails 50 in recess 52 ofthe foot portion Il.

The sleeve and rod provide for longitudinal pivotal movement of the foot portion and together with the semi-spherical for-mation 30 and sleeve portion 34 effect a universal coupling between the shin portion 2 and the foot portion 4.

Recesses 5ft in the shin portion contain rubber cushions 5S bearing against the outer ends of the sleeve 34 to stabilize the lateral pivoting, and recesses 53 in the foot portion li contain rubber cushions el) bearing against the shin portion at opposite sides of the swiveled rod 38 to stabilize longitudinal adjustment. i

The abutting faces B2 and 64, and B6 and 6B respectively of the shin and foot portions are angularly disposed to afford space for pivoting, and these spaces are lled with compressible material as sponge rubber pads 10, and it will be apparent that the foot portion may be adjusted universallywith relation to the shin portion subject to the stabilization of the cushions and that a realistic effect will be obtained from the use thereof.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An artificial limb comprising a shin portion having a central opening therein, a single bolt extending downwardly through the opening, said opening being wide at its lower end, a bushing threaded upon the lower end of the bolt and extending into the enlargement of the opening, said bushing having a socket formation at its lower end, said bolt having an eye formation, a member having a semi-spherical formation ntting the socket formation of the bushing, a pin `extending through the semi-spherical formation and the eye of the bolt, said member having a sleeve formation depending from the semi-spherical formation and a transverse bottom slot therewithin, rod means within the sleeve formation of said member, said rod means having a threaded transverse opening, a foot portion, a `bolt extending upwardly through the foot portion and through the sleeve formation of the member and threadedly connected with the .rod member within the sleeve formation of the member, Acushioning means extending between the shin portion and the foot portion to limit -the'amount of vadjustment of one portion .relative to the other portion.

2. An artificial limb comprising 4a shin portion having a central opening therein, 'a single bolt extending downwardly through the opening, said opening being wide at its lower end, a bushing threaded upon the lower-end of the bolt and extending into the enlargement of the opening, said bushing having a socket formation at its lower end, said bolt having an eye formation, a member having a semi-spherical formation tting the socket formation of the bushing, a pin extending through the semi-spherical formation and the eye of the bolt, said member having a sleeve formation depending from the semi-spherical formation and a transverse bottom slot therewithin, rod means within the 'sleeve for-mation of said member, said rod means'having a threaded trans- -verse opening, a foot portion, a bolt extending upwardly through the foot portion and through the sleeve formation lof the member and threadedly connected with lthe rod member within the sleeve formation of the member, cushioning i means extending between the shin portion and the foot portion to vlimit the amount of adjustment of one portion relative to the other portion, said rod means having ball bearings thereon, a

tube surrounding the rod member and journalled within the sleeve formation of said mentioned member.

3. An artificial limb comprising a shin portion having va central `opening therein, a single bolt extending downwardly through the opening, said opening being wide at its lower end, a bushing threaded upon the lower end of the bolt and extending into the enlargement of the opening, said bushing having a socket formation at its lower end, said bolthaving an eye formation, a member having ya semi-spherical formation fitting the socket formation of the bushing, a pin extending through the semi-spherical formation and the eye of the bolt, said member having a sleeve formation depending from the semi-spherical formation and a transverse bottom slot therewithin, rod means within the sleeve formation of said member, said rod means having a threaded transverse opening, a foot portion, a bolt extending upwardly through the foot portion and through the sleeve formation of the member and threadedly connected with the rod member within the sleeve formation of the member, cushioning means extending between the shin portion and the foot portion to limit the amount of adjustment of one portion relative to the other portion, said bushing having a shoulder thereon adapted to be brought against the side of the opening in the shin portion and means for securing the bolt in the shin portion opening and the bushing against threadable displacement therewithin.

4. An artificial limb comprising a shin portion having a central opening therein, a single bolt extending downwardly through the opening, said opening being wide at its lower end, a bushing threaded upon the lower end of the bolt and extending into the enlargement of the opening, said bushing having a socket formation at its lower end, said bolt having an eye formation, `a member having a semi-spherical formation fitting the socket formation of the bushing, a pin extending through the semi-spherical formation and the eye of the bolt, said member having a sleeve formation depending from the semi-spherical formation and a transverse bottom slot therewithin, rod means within the sleeve formation of said member, said rod means having a threaded transverse opening, a foot portion, a bolt extending upwardly through the foot portion and through the sleeve formation of the member and threadedly connected with the rod member within the sleeve formation of the member, cushioning means extending between the shin portion and the foot portion to limit the amount of adjustment of one portion relative to the other portion, and a housing extending about the bushing and the semi-spherical formation on the said member and extending laterally to the sides of the shin portion, said housing having bottom flanges adapted to engage with the bottom of the shin portion whereby to be retained against pivotal displacement within the shin portion.

JOHN M. TACHAR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

I UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

